Sighting in a 308
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 11:28 pm
I went down to the rifle range to check the scope on a 308 I had purchased a number of years ago and never shot as I found out I didn't need it for the intended purchase. Miss T had been told when she drove out to Oklahoma from Virginia to look at the top three or four properties on the prospective list that there were a few feral hogs that came through the farm here when she asked. When we got serious about the property I had started looking. I found the rifle in a gun shop in the outlying city and when we put the contract on the house, I bought the rifle. Turns out, NO hogs in the area in some time, the seller had assumed the husband of the lady checking out the property would WANT there to be hogs on the property. 
He had advertised the property as a prime hunting location, posting pictures of all his deer.
The coyote and feral dog problem had increased and the 308 would increase the range, so I took 'er down and checked the scope at 80 yards. With the Vortex Viper scope on the AR10, I figured it was a good starting point. I fired a three shot group and...
not a single shot on the cardboard, let alone on the target. Hmmm? Odd. I knew the ammo was good, I had shot very tight groups with the M1A and iron sights. 
Moved to 50 yards and tried again. Same results. Three shot group, not a single shot on the cardboard. I was stunned. This was a top brand AR, and I had cleaned and lubed the gun PRIOR to taking it to the range. I moved to 25 yards and shot offhand at the target. Still no hits using the scope. Set up for boar, it had metallic sights offset at 45 degrees in case a boar came charging from the brush. I tilted the gun and used those. Three shots.... in the black. No more shooting for the day. At more than $1.25 a round, I had my answer for now.
I ordered a laser bore sighting cartridge for 308 and waited. It arrived while I had a house filled with family for the holidays so I put the kit in the gunsmith's box and waited some more. I got 'er out today and checked the bore sight on the scope. It was a foot low at 20 yards, sighting down the dark hallway in the house to check the scope.
When I went to adjust the elevation, the elevation adjustment on the scope didn't work. All the other adjustments worked as they should, but this one was defective. I bought the rifle used, and the scope was already mounted... so I sent an mail to Vortex Optics this morning to see about getting the scope repaired.
This is the Vortex Viper 2.5 x 10 x 32 Tactical Precision Scope with an illuminated reticle. Retail on the scope is $1,000. (I see them on sale on line for $800) They have an unconditional lifetime warranty, but I bought the rifle used with the scope mounted on it, so the scope was acquired use. I told them that in the request... I didn't try and BS them. Still, if I have to pay $200 for repairs I come out way ahead. Hopefully Vortex can repair the scope for me.
https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-viper-p ... -EBR-1~MOA
I'll keep you posted on the outcome.
He had advertised the property as a prime hunting location, posting pictures of all his deer.The coyote and feral dog problem had increased and the 308 would increase the range, so I took 'er down and checked the scope at 80 yards. With the Vortex Viper scope on the AR10, I figured it was a good starting point. I fired a three shot group and...
not a single shot on the cardboard, let alone on the target. Hmmm? Odd. I knew the ammo was good, I had shot very tight groups with the M1A and iron sights. Moved to 50 yards and tried again. Same results. Three shot group, not a single shot on the cardboard. I was stunned. This was a top brand AR, and I had cleaned and lubed the gun PRIOR to taking it to the range. I moved to 25 yards and shot offhand at the target. Still no hits using the scope. Set up for boar, it had metallic sights offset at 45 degrees in case a boar came charging from the brush. I tilted the gun and used those. Three shots.... in the black. No more shooting for the day. At more than $1.25 a round, I had my answer for now.
I ordered a laser bore sighting cartridge for 308 and waited. It arrived while I had a house filled with family for the holidays so I put the kit in the gunsmith's box and waited some more. I got 'er out today and checked the bore sight on the scope. It was a foot low at 20 yards, sighting down the dark hallway in the house to check the scope.
When I went to adjust the elevation, the elevation adjustment on the scope didn't work. All the other adjustments worked as they should, but this one was defective. I bought the rifle used, and the scope was already mounted... so I sent an mail to Vortex Optics this morning to see about getting the scope repaired. This is the Vortex Viper 2.5 x 10 x 32 Tactical Precision Scope with an illuminated reticle. Retail on the scope is $1,000. (I see them on sale on line for $800) They have an unconditional lifetime warranty, but I bought the rifle used with the scope mounted on it, so the scope was acquired use. I told them that in the request... I didn't try and BS them. Still, if I have to pay $200 for repairs I come out way ahead. Hopefully Vortex can repair the scope for me.
https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-viper-p ... -EBR-1~MOA
I'll keep you posted on the outcome.
